Mistrust of European Powers Underlined

In his address to the Friday prayers in Tehran, Ayatollah Khamenei underscored his previous remarks about the unreliability of Europe's pledges after the US exit from the nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. 

"I said from the beginning that … they will do nothing and are at America's service; it has turned out now that they are in the true sense of the word ‘lowly and US servants," he was quoted as saying by Leader.ir, according to Financial Tribune.

The three European countries, France, Germany and Britain, have recently activated JCPOA's dispute resolution mechanism to address issues surrounding Iran's implementation of the deal. This could end in the United Nations Security Council with a "snapback" of global sanctions on Tehran. 

Iran has reduced its compliance in response to the US withdrawal and imposition of sweeping sanctions in 2018, as well as the European parties' incapability of compensating the economic setbacks caused by American pressure over the course of one year. 

The Leader had said at the time that Europe was not trustworthy and the country should rely on its domestic capacities and look to the East, instead of the West, to protect its economy. 

He noted at the Friday prayers that negotiation with Europe is also tainted by their "dishonesty and deception", but did not rule out the option of talks. 

"We do not reject negotiation, except with the Americans, but from a position of power," he said. 

Days of God 

Ayatollah Khamenei also commented on Washington's recent hostile measures against Iran, which have been met with the Iranians' definitive response. 

The US assassinated Iran's top commander, Major General Qasem Soleimani, and an Iraqi militia leader on the order of US President Donald Trump in Baghdad on Jan. 3. 

The assassination of Soleimani, the head of the IRGC's Quds Force and the most powerful commander in the fight against terrorism, was a "disgrace" to the US, according to Ayatollah Khamenei.

"The Americans did not face him on the battlefield, but committed this crime in a secret and cowardly operation," he said.

The martyrdom brought millions of mourners in Iran and thousands in Iraq and other Muslim states to the streets in protest. 

Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps later responded by launching missiles at locations in Iraq housing US forces. 

"[Iran's] strong reaction was an effective military blow, but more importantly, was a blow to America's dignity and stature," he said.

The Leader described both events as "days of God" because the massive processions and the brave military attack had the “hand of God” behind them. 

He stressed that the greatness of those events must not be overshadowed or sink into oblivion by any other incident, including the recent plane crash. 

Amid extensive threats of retaliation by the US, Iranian air defense systems, which were on high alert, mistakenly shot down a passenger plane last week that killed all the 176 people on board. 

"This very bitter incident truly broke our hearts, but some groups, following American and British media, try to use this tragic event to cause that glorious funeral and that strong IRGC response to be forgotten," he said. 

The Leader also called on the public to actively participate in the upcoming elections to foil the enemies' plots. 

"Elections are one of the most important indicators of the country's power, which insure the country and disappoint the enemies," he said. 

Iran's parliamentary elections are due to be held in late February.